Katonga Wildlife Reserve is a wildlife reserve found in western Uganda, alongside the banks of Katonga River. This wildlife reserve was set up in 1998 with an approximated size of 211 square kilometres (81 square miles). Most of the plants and animals species in this reserve are distinctive to its swampy environs. The reserve is titled after Katonga River that flows from Lake Victoria in the east to Lake George in the western Uganda.

Katonga Wildlife Reserve is situated in the districts of Ibanda and Kamwenge in western Uganda. In Kamwenge district, the reserve borders with Biguli Sub County and a portion of Mpara sub county found in Kyenjojo District. This reserve is about 200 kilometres or 120 miles by road from Kampala, the Capital City of Uganda.

The Reserve Vegetation

The plant life of the reserve is diverse grassland with acacia scrub or forests. A big slice of the reserve is either perpetual or periodic swamplands. Katonga reserve also has compartments of riverine and tropical woodland.

Wildlife in Katonga Wildlife Reserve

The reserve is a home to over 40 animal species and around 150 species of birds. The animal species include; Sitatunga, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Warthog, Bushbuck, Colobus monkey, Elephant and Otter among others. This wildlife reserve is best sightseen by river canoe or on foot.

The black-and-white colobus monkeys plus b and are also frequently seen. Bird Watching is also fantastic there, thanks to the diversity of habitations.

When to visit the reserve?

Katonga is visit-able any time of the year even though the best time for watching wildlife is during the dry season, that is from December to February and from June to July.

Climate & Weather

The climate and weather of Katonga Wildlife Reserve is similar to that of Uganda at large.